Table of Contents
Zener diodes can be used to limit a voltage across a load.
- Reverse biased Zener diode passes current when the source voltage is greater than it’s zener voltage. That current flow stops the voltage across the zener diode from getting higher than the zener voltage.
- A load parallel to the zener diode will also only have the zener voltage across it even though the supply voltage is higher. Parallel components always have the same voltage across them.
- Both the current through the zener diode, and the load, have to pass through the current limiting resistor. Therefore, the resistor has to be low enough in resistance to pass the current that the load needs, and the zener diode needs to regulate the voltage.
- Capital i (which looks like the lower case L in some fonts), is the symbol for current when doing calculations.
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